Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Two people, a soldier and a shooting suspect, have been confirmed dead in a shoot out at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Some reports are quoting a police source saying a second gunman has been shot, but this has not been confirmed.

The country's foremost newspaper, the Globe and Mail say the multiple shooting incidents have put the centre of Ottawa on high alert with Parliament Hill still on lock down.

MPs and journalists had to be taken to secure rooms inside Centre Block with some of them reporting that they saw a body lying outside the entrance to the Library of Parliament as they were huddled away by security.

An unidentified gunman shot a soldier at the War Memorial before fleeing towards the Hill. The Ottawa Police have confirmed the soldier has died of his wounds. Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau told reports he would not release the soldier’s name until next of kin have been contacted.

Some have connected this incident to another attack by some driver who rode over a couple of soldiers earlier this week on Monday, killing one of them.

The attacks if connected could be reprisals for Canada joined a coalition of countries allied against ISIS and supporting military action in Iraq and Syria.

The Armed Forces in Canada are not taking any chances as personnel in Quebec have been ordered not to wear their uniforms in public unless during operations.

Lt. Chouinard, the public affairs officer at the Saint-Jean Garrison in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, has released a statement, saying;

“The Canadian Armed Forces are continuously adapting to meet the requirements of an international security environment which is constantly evolving. The safety and well-being of their members are a major concern to the Canadian Armed Forces.”

“Starting today, and until further notice, all the soldiers from the Joint Task Force East, that is to say all troops stationed in Quebec, will no longer stop in public places in military uniform except for operational reasons.”